If your sister was so obsessed with your disability that she pretended to have the exact same diagnosis, what would you do?
Back when this woman was only 6, her doctor referred her to a cardiologist after picking up on a heart murmur. Two years later, she was diagnosed with Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, which is a genetic tissue disorder.
All of her symptoms fit the diagnosis, and some of those include chronic pain, soft skin that can bruise easily, and loose joints. After receiving her diagnosis, she has gone to countless specialists and doctors.
She’s undergone surgery and had procedures done. Her symptoms include subluxing joints, chronic pain, and terrible concurrent illnesses.
“I wouldn’t wish my condition on anyone, and I personally am extremely lucky that the early diagnosis has allowed me to take great care of my body to the point where I am still mobile and active 20+ years later, with limitations, of course,” she explained.
“However, I do rely on a cocktail of prescriptions just to do so, and I know that I practically live on a timer, and at any point, I could experience a serious complication that could set me back, or even permanently take away all my independence.”
Around four years ago, her sister brought up how she was convinced she had the same disability. Her sister isn’t exactly a picture of perfect health, and she has lied about being sick in the past, as well as exaggerated symptoms.
She does have fibromyalgia, though, and all of her sister’s symptoms line up with that, not Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. Additionally, her sister does have a slew of mental health problems.
She has told her sister several times that she does not have Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, but her sister has grown obsessed with her disability.
“I’ve also mentioned to her many times that if she truly believes she has it, she needs to seek a diagnosis for it. She has not, and instead continues to talk about how she thinks she has it, or even says she has it ‘mildly,'” she added.
The biggest symptom her sister has used to claim she has the same disability is stretchy skin on her face. Her sister claims a couple of her doctors suspect she has Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, but she has no idea what her sister is telling these medical professionals. It could be anything.
What’s most alarming to her is that her sister is now saying her 1-year-old son has Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, because he has soft skin.
Her sister has not been talking about her son having the disability until recently, and she’s already getting sick and tired of all of this.
“At this point, it feels like she is romanticizing it and wants another scapegoat for her inability to do anything and everything. I feel disrespected by her lack of understanding of how serious my condition is,” she continued.
“She constantly brings it up, and I don’t need any more reminders of my ticking timer than I already have. I have thought about cutting her out of my life many times, but it’s hard since she lives with my parents, and I worry for her child.”
It is worrisome that her sister is making her disability seem trendy. Considering her mental health issues, I wonder if her sister has Munchausen syndrome by proxy with how she’s treating her son.
I do think she needs to distance herself from her sister, and perhaps she can talk to their parents about reigning her in, too. That might help.
What advice do you have for her?
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By Bre Avery Zacharski
Hi, I'm Bre, Chip Chick's CEO! I have a degree in Textile/Surface Design from The Fashion Institute of Technology, and... More about Bre Avery Zacharski
